Amnesty International urges police chief to stop criminalising peaceful protesters

By The Nation

 

 

Rights group Amnesty International has called on national police chief Chaktip Chaijinda to halt the detention and criminalisation of anti-government demonstrators in Thailand “solely for exercising their human rights by participating in peaceful protests”.

 

 

In a letter to Chaktip, Amnesty cautioned that as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Thailand is obliged to ensure that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully respected and protected without distinction of any kind, including political opinion.

 

The letter comes after police banned a series of anti-government demonstrations and arrested protest leaders, using blanket powers under the state of emergency ostensibly imposed to control Covid-19.

 

Amnesty also called on the police chief to withdraw criminal complaints brought against dozens of peaceful political activists, including students.

 

It pointed out that in most cases, demonstrators have complied with measures designed to protect public health, including wearing masks and physical distancing.

 

“[W]e urge you to ensure that the Royal Thai Police, while discharging its responsibility to maintain order and protect public health during the Covid-19 pandemic, polices demonstrations in a way that effectively enables peaceful assemblies to take place,” the rights group said.

 

Amnesty noted demonstrators have reported that police officers have harassed and intimidated individuals solely for their involvement in peaceful protests during this period, including ongoing student-led demonstrations calling for constitutional reform, resignation of the government, and an end to harassment of the political opposition.

 

It said police have visited demonstrators and their families at their homes and warned them against joining protests.

It also urged the police to respect and protect the rights of human rights activists monitoring demonstrations, and not to confiscate or destroy any written or recorded materials and equipment used to monitor the demonstrations.

 

Amnesty reminded Chaktip of Article 3 of the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, which states: “Law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty.”

 

The letter was signed by Ming Yu Hah, Amnesty International’s regional deputy director for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30392236

 

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24 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Amnesty also called on the police chief to withdraw criminal complaints brought against dozens of peaceful political activists, including students.

Henceforth they dropped all charges against the little Red Bull creep.

Can't tell that to a police / military state. Wasted printer ink and paper.

41 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Amnesty reminded Chaktip of Article 3 of the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement

Wasting their time, since when did this load of plonkers ever listen to anybody?

Dissent in any shape or form, will not be tolerated, just a handful of students making waves for Prayut.

Problem is they are like farangs, they not understand.????????????

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Amnesty International urges police chief to stop criminalising peaceful protesters

 

Amnesty International is an idealistic, humanitarian, and well-intentioned organization…which explains why no one ever listens to them.

 

 

 

Edited August 1, 20205 yr by Hayduke

55 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

Amnesty reminded Chaktip of Article 3 of the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, which states: “Law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty.”

Agree. 

Thankyou Amnesty.

 

protest because Prayut lacks a mandate from the people since he did not run for election. Also, he is the sole PM candidate nominated by Phalang Pracharat, which failed to win a majority of seats in the March election and thereby has little in the way of legitimacy to form a government. 

 

Link

https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30370562

 

 

Amnesty say about USA? Police worse than Thai police.

 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

It said police have visited demonstrators and their families at their homes and warned them against joining protests.

Yep, that is the intimidation we have come accustomed to in junta controlled Thailand.   People in uniform with Elmer Fudd intellects doing whatever they can to subdue those with a differing opinion.  Its a matter of record once again.    

55 minutes ago, Yinn said:

Agree. 

Thankyou Amnesty.

 

protest because Prayut lacks a mandate from the people since he did not run for election. Also, he is the sole PM candidate nominated by Phalang Pracharat, which failed to win a majority of seats in the March election and thereby has little in the way of legitimacy to form a government. 

Now there is something most TVF members will agree with Yinn

1 hour ago, Yinn said:

Agree. 

Thankyou Amnesty.

 

protest because Prayut lacks a mandate from the people since he did not run for election. Also, he is the sole PM candidate nominated by Phalang Pracharat, which failed to win a majority of seats in the March election and thereby has little in the way of legitimacy to form a government. 

 

Link

https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30370562

 

 

Amnesty say about USA? Police worse than Thai police.

 

Good grief!  I agree with you Yinn

3 hours ago, Yinn said:

Amnesty say about USA? Police worse than Thai police.

Bad American police go to jail.  Bad BiB drive nice cars, live in beautiful homes with servants, have lots of girlfriends and get promotions.  

 

3 hours ago, Yinn said:

Agree. 

Thankyou Amnesty.

 

protest because Prayut lacks a mandate from the people since he did not run for election. Also, he is the sole PM candidate nominated by Phalang Pracharat, which failed to win a majority of seats in the March election and thereby has little in the way of legitimacy to form a government. 

 You have smelled the coffee.  The current government is an embarrassment to Thailand.   

Didn't the PM and the Government promise the SEO wouldn't be used on protesters?
And yet here we are protest leaders have been arrested and protested banned under SOE ????
There were reports on Twitter of under cover cops infiltrating protests and holding up certain signs but no reports by the media on that.
Now they protest with blank signs good look I don't think they need signs to know what they want.

 

Edited August 1, 20205 yr by DirtyHarry55

4 hours ago, Yinn said:

Agree. 

Thankyou Amnesty.

 

protest because Prayut lacks a mandate from the people since he did not run for election. Also, he is the sole PM candidate nominated by Phalang Pracharat, which failed to win a majority of seats in the March election and thereby has little in the way of legitimacy to form a government. 

 

Link

https://www.nationthailand.com/opinion/30370562

 

 

Amnesty say about USA? Police worse than Thai police.

 

100% agree with on the Top Part but don't compare the protests in Thailand with the US the Protesters in Thailand are 100% peaceful.

in the US they've been burning down property and looting shops in the same situation I'm sure they would crack down pretty hard maybe even use live Ammo again.

 

 

Edited August 1, 20205 yr by DirtyHarry55

They forget that in Thailand 'Human Rights' are only for The Elite !

6 hours ago, rooster59 said:

In a letter to Chaktip, Amnesty cautioned that as a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Thailand is obliged to ensure that the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are fully respected and protected without distinction of any kind, including political opinion.

A very good point... it means lay-off the heavy handedness and allow people to openly voice an opinion in a peaceful fashion without harassment.

2 hours ago, DirtyHarry55 said:

Now they protest with blank signs good look I don't think they need signs to know what they want.

A stroke of genius... holding up blank signs, now arrest us for what?

Work that one out Mr Plod.

They are asking a man that has been stealing the people's money for decades and allowing extortion and stand over tactics to help ????